At first glance, The Bad
Apple restaurant in Chicago's North Center neighborhood might not
strike a parent as kid friendly. This hip venue, famous for its
gourmet burgers and fries, offers patrons more than 100 beers from
which to choose and turns into a lively bar scene most
evenings.

But take a closer look at the
all-fresh ingredients and the clever kids' menu, and it's clear
this eatery is perfect for parents and children alike.

One of the main reasons
parents love to dine here is The Bad Apple's philosophy on healthy
eating.

"There are no chemicals,
pesticides or hormones in any of our products," says owner and chef
Craig Fass. "... The problem lies in the fillers and additives. But
when the beef is free-range, grass-fed, 'happy meat' and the
potatoes are all natural, then the food is clean and
delicious."

And delicious it is. Those
with adventurous palates should try Elvis' Last Supper, a burger
topped with peanut butter and bacon ("trust us, it's good," the
menu promises) or The Hangover, a burger lavished with house-glazed
ham, over-easy egg, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, ketchup,
mayo, mustard, provolone and fries served on a pretzel bun. Kids
can choose a more basic burger or play chef themselves by ordering
a "Creat-ables" sandwich where they make their own.

And the fries-oh, the fries!
These award-winning creations come in a variety of tantalizing
flavors: truffle oil, firecracker, old bay, curry, minced garlic,
sweet and spicy chipotle, creole and, for the less daring,
plain.

Fass even makes his own
ketchup. "When we are feeding some kids twice a week, we feel
morally obligated to give them the best food we can."